ARTWALK 2010, A GIANT OUTDOOR ART SHOW

in the streets of Little Italy, attracted thousands of visitors Saturday and Sunday. The 26th annual event drew artists from across Southern California and showcased all disciplines — from oil paintings to glass sculptures. It also featured music, dancing and a celebration of all things creative.

Here’s a breakdown of the event:

Artists: 340.

Performances: 37 live acts.

Estimated attendance over two days: 120,000.

Number of city blocks: 16.

Average cost of a hard-to-find parking spot: $10.

Most popular theme: The ocean — from images of jellyfish and seashells to waves and surfers.

Cost of a Drizzle! Pop art painting of Little Italy: $900.

Cost of a framed photo of the Hotel del Coronado by Robert Kawika Sheer: $349.

Longest food line: Hunter Steakhouse tri-tip sandwiches.

Tastiest treat: Berry kebabs drizzled in chocolate, $5.

Worth the wait: Pastries at Influx Cafe.

Cute kids to cute dogs ratio: 1-to-2.

Most creative art project: Pins made out of recycled bottle caps from the Rare Hare Studio booth.

The 26th annual art festival, held Saturday and Sunday in Little Italy, celebrated all things artistic — from paintings and sculptures to dance performances and live music.

The massive street party, that took up 16 blocks and made driving through the neighborhood a bit of a nightmare, attracted about 120,000 people over both days.

Many came with hopes of finding something new and original to put on their walls.

“I love art, but I don’t really go to galleries. Galleries intimidate me,” said La Mesa’s Brenda Martinez. “I come to ArtWalk every year because it’s a fun way to see paintings and get to know new artists.”

The preschool teacher was on the hunt for something bright that would match her newly-painted yellow kitchen. She spent a lot of time over at the Artes de Mexico section, which featured artists from south of the border.

“There’s almost too many choices,” she said.

The event featured 340 very diverse artists. Works included everything from photos of Baja California and abstract acrylic paintings to handmade turquoise jewelry and glass sculptures in the shape of women.

There was even an enclosed area at Washington Elementary school called KidsWalk. It featured crafts, projects and performances specifically for kids.

But if you had to pick an overall ArtWalk 2010 theme, it would be the ocean. San Diego’s coastline served as a popular muse for the artists. There were metal sculptures of jellyfish, photos of boardwalks, paintings of surfers, and lots and lots of images of waves.

Original art averaged in the hundreds of dollars, although many artists sold prints for as little as $10.

Painter Wade Koniakowsky, one of the 12 featured festival artists, has a gallery in Solana Beach called Ocean Art by Koniakowsky. It was his first time showing at ArtWalk and, after selling about a dozen pieces, was pleased with the event.

“The testimonials from fellow artists convinced me to sign up for ArtWalk,” he said. “They said it was the best show for artists in San Diego. And after this weekend, I have to agree. I’m going to sign up for next year right away.”

But the weekend wasn’t just a boost for traditional artists. There were six stages for live music that featured performances from local singer/songwriters, the San Diego Symphony and The Malashock Dance School.

Over at the India & Fir stage, a Latin-tinged set by Manny Cepeda inspired an impromptu dance party. And a big crowd clapped along as the young girls and women from the Ballet Folklorico Tapatio de San Diego showcased dances from Mexico.

“This is my favorite local street party,” said Gil Smith of Escondido. “There’s so much to see and you feel like what you’re seeing is truly good art. I just wish I could afford it.”

And of course, all those people in Little Italy was good for local businesses. Tara Beatty who co-owns Be Beauty boutique said she loves ArtWalk weekend.

“Obviously, it’s great exposure,” she said. “And a lot of people are in a shopping mood, which translates to sales for us. But most of all, I like how people from all parts of the city come together.”